Clark County Criminal Records

Clark County criminal records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk and District Court in Vancouver, the county seat. Clark County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Washington, covering the greater Vancouver area just north of the Oregon border. Felony criminal case files, misdemeanor records, arrest history, and conviction information are all accessible through Clark County courts and the Sheriff's Office. This page explains where to find criminal records in Clark County and how to request copies online or in person.

Clark County Superior Court Clerk

The Clark County Clerk of Superior Court is the official custodian of all felony criminal case records for the county. The Clerk's office maintains records for criminal, civil, probate, family law, and juvenile cases filed in Clark County Superior Court. For criminal records specifically, the Clerk holds all felony case files including charges, pleas, trial verdicts, sentencing orders, and appeals. Records can be accessed in person, by mail, or through the county's online request process.

Copy fees at Clark County follow the state schedule. Uncertified copies cost $0.50 per page when mailed and $0.25 per page when emailed. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. If you do not have a case number, a $30 search fee applies. You can email copy requests to copyrequests@clark.wa.gov. The Clerk's office also accepts requests through its website and by mail at PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000.

Clark County District Court Records

Clark County District Court handles traffic violations, criminal traffic citations, misdemeanor crimes, civil cases under $100,000, small claims, and name changes. This court sees a large volume of cases given Clark County's size. Misdemeanor criminal records from the Vancouver area, including DUI cases, minor assaults, theft offenses, and traffic-related crimes, are maintained at the District Court level.

District Court records are separate from Superior Court records. If you are looking for a misdemeanor case from Clark County, contact the District Court directly at 1200 Franklin Street in Vancouver. Phone (564) 397-2150. You can also use the statewide Washington Courts case search to search both Superior and District Court records at the same time.

Clark County Odyssey Case Search Portal

Clark County Superior Court uses the Odyssey case management system, which has a public search portal. The Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov lets you search Clark County Superior Court cases by case number, the name of a plaintiff or defendant, or an attorney name or bar ID number. This is a direct portal to Clark County court records and is more detailed than the statewide case search for Superior Court matters.

The Odyssey Portal is a solid first step for finding Clark County felony criminal case information. It shows party names, case numbers, docket entries, filing dates, and case status. Document images are not always available, but you get enough information to decide whether to submit a formal records request to the Clerk's office. The statewide portal at dw.courts.wa.gov covers both Superior and District Court across all counties and is better if you want to search both courts at once.

Clark County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Clark County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail. The Sheriff maintains arrest records, incident reports, and booking information. For arrest records, incident reports, or jail booking data, submit a public records request to the Sheriff's Office. Clark County also has a central public records page at clark.wa.gov/public-records that covers multiple departments.

The Washington Public Records Act under RCW Chapter 42.56 requires the Sheriff to acknowledge records requests within five business days. Investigative records for open cases may be withheld. Records for closed cases are generally available. Arrest records and booking information are considered public in most situations, though booking photos may be withheld in certain circumstances under state law.

Clark County Criminal Records Online

Clark County offers several online tools for searching criminal records. The Odyssey Portal is best for Superior Court cases. The free statewide Washington Courts Name and Case Search covers both Superior and District Court cases from Clark County. Both portals are available 24 hours a day at no cost. Neither provides document images, but both give you case numbers and status information you need before requesting copies.

For a state-level criminal history check, use the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov. WATCH costs $11 per search and returns conviction history for Washington State, including Clark County convictions. For state prison inmates, use the Department of Corrections search at doc.wa.gov. For registered sex offenders in Clark County, check the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry at waspc.org.

Court forms for requesting records are available at courts.wa.gov/forms. The Washington State Court Directory at courts.wa.gov/court_dir has complete contact details for all Clark County courts.

WATCH Background Checks for Clark County

WATCH, the Washington State Patrol's online criminal history system, is a key tool for checking conviction history in Clark County and across the state. The system searches by name and date of birth. Each search costs $11. Go to watch.wsp.wa.gov and enter the exact name and birth date. Results come back within seconds. A full criminal history RAP sheet, if one exists, shows Washington State convictions, recent pending arrests, sex or kidnapping offender registration status, and Department of Corrections data.

WATCH results cover only Washington State records. It does not include Oregon records, federal records, or records from other states. This matters for Clark County because of its proximity to Portland and the Oregon border. If you need a broader check, you may need to contact Oregon courts separately or use a different resource. For organizations that need frequent searches, WATCH offers billed accounts that can be set up by submitting an application to the WSP at WATCH.Help@wsp.wa.gov.

Non-conviction data is protected under RCW Chapter 10.97 and does not appear in public WATCH results. Only conviction records and pending arrests within the past year are visible to the general public. Criminal justice agencies can access fuller records through separate secured channels.

Clark County Jail Roster and Inmate Records

The Clark County Sheriff operates the county jail. Jail booking information is public record and includes the inmate's name, booking date, charges, and custody status. To check current jail roster information for Clark County, contact the Sheriff's Office or check if a current jail roster is available through the county website. The Sheriff's general phone number is available through the county's contact directory.

For people sentenced to Washington State correctional facilities, use the free inmate search at doc.wa.gov. The search works by name or DOC number and returns current facility location, age, and custody status. The DOC Public Disclosure Unit at (360) 725-8213 can handle broader records requests about incarcerated individuals.

Sex Offender Registry in Clark County

The Clark County Sheriff's Office manages sex offender registration for the county. Sex offenders must register with the Sheriff within three business days of release from custody and report any address or employer changes within three business days under RCW 9A.44.130. Clark County, with its large and growing population, has a substantial number of registered offenders across all risk levels.

The public can search Level II and Level III registered sex offenders in Clark County at the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry at waspc.org. Level I offenders are not listed publicly. Level III offenders may be subject to active community notification by the Sheriff in addition to the public registry. The national registry at nsopw.gov is also available for searches that cross state lines. Class B felony sex offenders without prior convictions can petition for removal from the registry after 15 years. Class C offenders can end registration after 10 years in the community.

How to Get Clark County Criminal Records

You can request Clark County criminal records in person, by mail, by email, or online. For felony records, go to the Clark County Clerk or mail a request to PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. Email copy requests to copyrequests@clark.wa.gov. For misdemeanor records, contact the District Court at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660.

When requesting records, include the full name of the person, the approximate case filing year, and the case number if you have it. If you do not have a case number, a $30 search fee applies at the Clerk's office. State what specific documents you need. Copy fees are $0.50 per page mailed, $0.25 per page emailed. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page.

Clark County also has a central public records portal at clark.wa.gov/public-records that may be useful for coordinating requests across multiple departments at once. The Washington State courts forms page at courts.wa.gov/forms has standard request forms that work across all Washington courts.

Note: Agencies must acknowledge requests within five business days under RCW 42.56.520. They can request an extension for complex requests, but they must respond within the initial five-day window.

Privacy and Access Rules for Clark County Records

Clark County criminal records are subject to the same Washington State access rules that apply across all 39 counties. The Public Records Act creates a broad right of public access to government records. Court records in Clark County are presumptively open under General Rule 31. Conviction records can be shared freely with anyone under RCW Chapter 10.97.

Restrictions apply to specific categories. Juvenile records are mostly confidential under RCW Chapter 13.50. Non-conviction data is restricted to criminal justice agencies. Cases sealed by court order are not publicly accessible. Records involving minor victims of sexual assault are protected under RCW 10.97.130. Investigative records for open cases may be withheld under RCW 42.56.240(1) until the investigation closes.

If you are the subject of a Washington criminal history record, you have the right to review your own complete file, including non-conviction data, under RCW 10.97.080. Contact the Washington State Patrol at (360) 534-2000 to start the review process. You can also request deletion of non-conviction-only records under RCW 10.97.060 if no active proceedings are pending.

Cities in Clark County

Clark County covers the greater Vancouver area in southwest Washington. All cities in the county file criminal cases through Clark County Superior Court or District Court.

Other communities in Clark County include Battle Ground, Washougal, Ridgefield, La Center, and many unincorporated areas. Criminal cases from all of these areas are handled through the Clark County court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clark County in southwest Washington. Check their pages if you need records from neighboring areas.